General tone control apparatus



May 17, 1932. w, R. DALFONSO I 1,858,486

GENERAL TONE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTOR NEV May 17, 1932. w. R. DALFONSO GENERAL TONE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTQRNEY May 17, 1932- w. R. DALFONSO 1,853,486

GENERAL TONE CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented May 17, 1932 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM R. DALFONSO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GENERAL TONE CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed May 3, 1929. Serial No. 380,181.

The object ofthis invention is to provide means for amplifying the vibrations of sound-producing and sound reproducing instrumentsof all kinds, and purifying and 6 sustaining the sounds from musical instruinents and from apparatus for reproducing speech.

A further object is to provide for increasingfthe range and usefulness of these instruments, so that single instruments and orchestras of moderate size can be heard to advantage within all parts of large halls and theaters, and in open spaces a plurality of units of the form here disclosed can be assembled for the production of results not obtainable by other and less efficient means heretofore employed.

A further object is to provide an amplifying and tone purifying device especially adapted for all types of wind instruments and similar instruments and likewise adapted for use in connection with telephone receivers and radio loudspeakers including those used on aeroplanes, and in connection with all types of warning and alarm mechanism, within banks and other buildings, and on the street or in other open spaces in connection with police and fire protection,--also for amplifying warnings used in connection with marine operations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements disclosed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through one embodiment of the invention, and showing the device employed in connection with radio apparatus, by way of example, or as illustrating the broad principles involved.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus per se, or that portion below the plane of line 22 of Figure 1. r

Figure 3 is a view showin the manner of applying the structure of igure 4 to one form of wind instrument, and at a plurality of positions therein (or in either one of the positions indicated), as the case may be.

Figure 4 is a section through a single unit 7 I of the type shown at a plurality of points 5 in the preceding views, for increasing or amplifying the sound vibrations and purifying the tone. 7

Figure 5 is a section through one of the valves and the associated connections.

Figure 6 is a vertical section showing a modified construction in which an additional chamber is provided with means for effecting adjustment.

Figure 7 is in elevation and section and shows a similar principle applied in connection with the mouth piece of a wind instrument.

Figure 8 is a transverse section through the relatively adjustable elements.

Whereas no limitation is to be assumed regarding the use of the device for the general purposes specified, mention may be made of the fact that sound vibrations within or issuing from instruments and apparatus of the following types can be amplified to advantage for the purpose of increasing their respective fields of usefulness: Piano, organ, radio apparatus, telephone instruments, movitone and vitaphone apparatus, phonographs, loud speakers for airplanes, warning devices, band and all musical instruments of brass or wood, speech producing devices in addition to those named, microphones and other transmitters, bank alarms, police alarms, pneua5 matic alarms of other types, devices used on boats and all types of vessels for signalling or indicating Warnings, similar devices used on trains, apparatus used on motor vehicles for warning purposes, devices used on bicycles and other similar machines, megaphones, sirens.

In the form of the device illustrated in Figure 1 a cone receiver 10 is applied to the radio apparatus shown conventionally at R, and the walls of the device 10 converge upwardly and are flanged at 11 for connection with the flange 12 of the tubular portion 13 through which sound vibrations pass to the chamber 14.

Connected with the latter are elements 15, 16, 17 and also members 19 and 20, shown in Figure 2. These tubular elements and members, with walls which converge outwardly and then diverge, communicate with elements 2l,and adjacent elements 15, 16, etc-., are in communication with each other through tubes 22, a plurality of series of the latter being shown between corresponding branch members of the device.

The chambered portions 21 each'contain a valve 23 controlled by stem 24, and horns such as 25 are formed on or connected with elements 21, in the relative position shown, or any other suitable position. The diverging walls of the horns at the inner portion thereof have particular relation to the chambered portions 21 and with the tubular portions 15, 16, 17, 19, 20. The vibrations are intensified as they enter chamber 14 from tubular connection 13, having communication with the receiving cone 10.

These vibrations impinge on the walls of the chamber 14, are modified by the shape of the walls, and are further intensified as they pass through the portions having converging walls and extending in various directions from the chambered portion 14.

Any one of the transmitting horns 25, or any number of them, may be thrown out of service by using the valve 23 thereof, and on the other hand their number maybe greatly increased by any suitable multiple arrangement, as by employing additional units such as the complete structure of Figure 1 and connecting the additional units with that structure.

The principles embodied in the structure of Figure 1 are applied for instance to any form of wind instrumentsuch' asthat shown conventionally in Figure 3 by employing adjacent to the mouth piece 28, the structure of Figure 4, andemploying asimilar structure inthe slidable element 30, that is, at'either or both of these positions. The middlechamher 31 is produced within flared walls 32, 33 on the members shown at the right and left ofthe view, threaded connection being made at 33.

The walls of the chamber converge outwardly from the central portionand then diverge from the point 34, and sound vibra tions are'here modified, amplified, and rendered harmonious, and the efiort required'on sponds with chamber 14 0f Figure 1, :andthe curved walls of this chamber merge into the walls of the chamber 40, whereas segmental tubes 39 correspond with tubes 22 of the previous form and serve as sound and tone sustaining devices. Similar tubes 40 connect the chamber of the element 40 with stationary element 41 of an additional chamber, the walls at 41 diverging outwardly and merging into cylindrical portion 42 with reference to which cylindrical portion 43 of the adjustable connection 44 is slidable. The walls of element 44 hrstconverge outwardly and then diverge, and are connected with or merge intothewa-lis of the horn 45.

A plurality of these devices may be assembled as in Figure l and the structures of Figures 1 and 6 may-each beconsidered as aunit serving as the basisof a multiple arrange ment in which additional units wouldbe applied or placed in communication with anyor all of the outlets.

The adjustment of the structure 44, 45 may be secured by means of racks 47, on the inner element, ateach side thereof, these 'rachs' being engaged by pinions 48 on stems 49;operated'by controlling devices 50, said stems being mounted in extensions 49 What is claimed is 1. An amplifying. device of the class-described, comprising an amplifying chamber including a central chamber and outlets therefor, the inner walls of which chamber are curved, the walls converging and thereafter diverging to form extensions.

2. An amplifying device of the class described, comprising an amplifying chamber including a central chamber and outlets therefor, the inner walls of which chamber are curved, the walls thenconvergingaad thereafter diverging to form extensions, the converging portions and diverging portions being in correspondingpositions on opposite sides of the chamber.

3. An amplifying device of the-class--described, comprising an element formin .a chamber, a valve mounted in the chem er, means for operating-the valves, said chamber having curved walls, and tubular elements extending laterally from the element providing the chamber, and two of said elements being alined-on oppositesidesof the chamber, the tubular elements having converging inner walls and having outer Walls diverging toward their outer e-nd portions.

4. An amplifying device of the class described, comprising acentral chamber themnor walls ofwh-ich are curved,said wallsconverging and thereafter divergin ,to fem extensions and outlets, and a va ve within the chamber.

5. An amplifying device of the class-doscribed, comprising a -main chamber amd laterally extending tubular outlet: portions .50! this chamber, means establishing communi cation between adjacent tubular portions at corresponding points thereon, the'enfls-"of the outlets of the tubular portions being out- Wardly flared, and a correspondingly flared portion having Walls merging with those of each of the flared portions first named but in reverse relation therewith, said correspondingly flared portions also having Walls outwardly flared.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM R. DALFONSO. 

